Exam Pass Notes

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Core Decontamination Principles

• Decontamination makes reusable items safe for the next patient.
• Cleaning removes visible contamination and must be completed before sterilisation.
• Disinfection reduces microbial load; sterilisation aims to eliminate viable microorganisms.
• Maintain a clear dirty-to-clean workflow to avoid recontaminating instruments, surfaces, packaging, and storage.
• Follow manufacturer instructions, local standard operating procedures, and current national guidance.

Dental Nurse Practice

• Perform hand hygiene and wear appropriate PPE before, during, and after decontamination tasks.
• Select PPE based on the likely exposure; both under-protection and unnecessary overuse are inappropriate.
• Do not release instruments that are dirty, damaged, wet, incorrectly packaged, untraceable, or associated with a failed cycle.
• Use, check, and maintain washer-disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaners, autoclaves, and disinfectants according to the agreed process.
• Turnaround of a surgery must follow the correct sequence: removal of waste/contaminants, cleaning, disinfection with required contact time, and setting up a clean surgery.

Records and Speaking Up

• Keep traceability records, test and cycle logs, maintenance entries, training evidence, and cleaning schedules to show safe systems are functioning.
• Escalate failed cycles, equipment faults, PPE shortages, visible debris, missing records, or breaches in dirty-clean flow.
• Use calm, process-focused language such as "This needs to go back through the process" or "We cannot release that load because the cycle failed."
• Proper decontamination protects patients, colleagues, and the practice.